Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC
December 16, 1998
(Phone: 202/358-1979)
Lorie Dankers
Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/366-5565)
Marcia Adams
Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/267-8521)
RELEASE: 98-224
DOT, FAA AND NASA COMMEMORATE
WRIGHT BROTHERS' 95TH ANNIVERSARY
The Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) and NASA will commemorate the 95th anniversary
of the Wright brothers' first flight with an aviation education
event for nearly 200 area students. The event will be held on
Thursday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST in the FAA
auditorium, third floor, 800 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC.
"As we enter into the next century, it is important to have a
skilled workforce. Historic events like these help introduce
students to transportation careers and help them to understand what
knowledge and abilities they will need to enter the high-tech
transportation field," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney
E. Slater.
This celebration will link education programs the agencies have
in place -- Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures
Program and NASA CONNECT -- to encourage students to think about
transportation careers and to illustrate how math and science are
used in real life.
The NASA CONNECT instructional television series will focus on
navigation for this anniversary program. A segment called "Wherever
You Go, There You Are" will be broadcast live, including
participation from this Washington event, to PBS stations across the
country from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. EST on Dec. 17.
Following the live broadcast, winners of the Wright Brothers
Poetry, Art and Music Contest will receive a poster depicting
aviation pioneers by artist Frank Kulczak. Senator John Glenn, NASA
Administrator Daniel S. Goldin and FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey
will sign the poster.
A highlight of the event will be an opportunity for students to
speak with some of aviation's real pioneers: Bill Broadwater,
Tuskegee Airman and a retired FAA controller, and Christopher Hart,
FAA Assistant Administrator for System Safety.
"The Space Shuttle on its way to the International Space
Station, a spacecraft on its way to Mars, and an aircraft that flies
safer than ever before all have one thing in common: They are made
possible by people who studied and excelled in math and science,"
said Goldin. "If our nation's young people understand the
importance
of these subjects, there is no doubt America will reach its
destination of greatness in the 21st Century."
"Throughout its history, the aviation industry has succeeded
and thrived largely because of the vision and dedication of pioneers
like Orville and Wilbur Wright. Aviation's continued success
depends on the ability of our next generation of aviators, today's
youth, to keep the Wright brother's legacy alive," said Garvey.
The event will include industry representatives from the
Experimental Aircraft Association, Professional Aviation Maintenance
Association and the National Air Transportation Association.
Area schools participating in the activities include: Thomas
Jefferson High School, Fairfax, VA; Thomas Edison High School,
Springfield, VA; Tuckahoe Elementary School, Arlington, VA; Bradbury
Heights Elementary School, Capitol Heights, MD; District Heights
Elementary School, District Heights, MD; Doswell Brooks Elementary
School, Capitol Heights, MD; Concord Elementary School, Capitol
Heights, MD; Shadyside Elementary School, Shadyside, MD; Hyattsville
Middle School, Hyattsville, MD; Sligo Middle School, Rockville, MD;
Harlem Park Elementary School, Baltimore, MD; Malcolm X Elementary
School and Lucy B. Slowe Elementary School, Washington, DC.
More than 700,00 students and 10,000 teachers nationwide have
registered to view the live PBS program.
After the event at FAA, students will tour the Smithsonian's
National Air & Space Museum and see the actual Flyer flown by the
Wright brothers.
This will be the first of a series of events leading to the
100th
anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight in 2003.
Please contact FAA or NASA public affairs (see phone numbers
listed above) if you plan to attend.
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